LORD Browne of Madingley, the chief executive of BP, was last night ordered by a Texas court to testify in a lawsuit over an accident at a local refinery last year which claimed 15 lives and injured 170.

The unprecedented ruling was made by the State Court in Galveston, Texas, despite opposition from BP’s lawyers, who argued that Lord Browne had “no unique knowledge” of the explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery.

Brent Coons, a lawyer representing more than 100 victims and their families who are suing the company for an unspecified sum, said he would interview Lord Browne behind closed doors, and then show a videotape of his testimony during the trial.

Mr Coons said: “We believe Lord Browne has personal knowledge of problems at the Texas refinery that contributed to the explosion.”

Lord Browne cannot be compelled to testify in open court because he lives outside the US.

BP said last night that it would appeal against the Texas ruling, which also compelled John Manzoni, its head of oil refining, to testify. The company is contesting the case even though it has already reached settlements with many of the victims.

The court decision is the latest blow to the oil giant, which has seen its reputation battered in recent weeks. In June, US authorities accused some of the company’s traders of manipulating the market in propane.

US authorities are also investigating allegations that BP was negligent in maintenance of its Prudhoe Bay oilfield in Alaska. The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating claims that BP manipulated data to avoid replacing corroded pipelines at Prudhoe Bay, while the Alaska attorney-general has ordered the company to retain documents related to corrosion. BP denies any wrongdoing.

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